Legislation

US – Michigan to allow instate poker as online launch nears

By Phil - 7 January 2021

Michigan will permit interstate online poker with Governor Gretchen Whitmer signing a bill into law for online poker operators to create liquidity pools with players from other states.

By amending the Lawful Internet Gaming Act, SB 991, will allow the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) to pursue cooperations with other regulators in different jurisdictions to partner in interstate online poker.

Observers believe that online poker is likely to launch after online casino and sports betting.

MGCB Communication Specialist, Mary Kay Bean, said: “We don’t know whether poker will be among the games offered at initial launch. It will depend on an operator’s readiness to offer poker and their desire to do so.”

Michigan recently became the 20th state to allow online sports betting with 15 sportsbooks have already been approved in Michigan so far, including Fanduel and DraftKings.

State Senator Curtis Hertel said: “I fully expect that sometime this month we’ll see a launch. I expect every casino in Detroit and most of the tribes will have a partner and will be online,” Hertel said. “I think we’re talking about a dozen different offerings that will be available.”

Richard Kalm, Executive Director of the Michigan Gaming and Control Board, said: “I think there’s some pent-up demand. The casinos were only open at fifteen per cent capacity in October, and November was only half a month because, remember, we had to close because of COVID.”

He believes online poker, online slots and online table gaming could all launch as soon as February.